Which of the following describes the data handled by a next-generation firewall?

A next-generation firewall (NGFW) is designed to manage and monitor all types of application traffic, not just a subset of it. This includes web traffic, streaming data, and other application protocols. The advanced capabilities of NGFWs allow them to inspect traffic at a deeper level, identifying and controlling applications based on their behavior rather than just their ports or protocols. This means that they can enforce security policies across the entire network and provide visibility and control over all the traffic flowing in and out of a network, making them essential in modern cybersecurity strategies.

In contrast, other options describe limited scopes of traffic. For example, focusing solely on web traffic would mean disregarding several other types of application data that could pose security risks. Similarly, only considering streaming data would overlook the many other protocols and applications that need protection. Lastly, a focus on inbound traffic ignores the fact that organizations must also manage outbound traffic to prevent data leaks and ensure compliance with policies. Therefore, the correct understanding is that next-generation firewalls handle all application traffic comprehensively.